Boston, MA

Boston MA scores 75/100 on safety (above average). Crime is about 28% below the national average. Pick the neighborhood carefully. Some ZIPs are fine, others are not.

Detail: overall crime index 72 (100 = avg); violent crime index 85; property crime index 58. Indexes near 100 track a typical U.S. load. Higher means more crime pressure on that category.

Campus scores in the report: Boston Elementary (elementary) at 7/10; Boston Middle School (middle) at 7/10; Boston High School (high) at 8/10. On this 10-point scale, 7 is solidly middle; 9 is a standout.

District picture: about B+ (above average) · Top 35% statewide. Student-teacher staffing: 16:1. If schools drive your move, compare the specific campuses that serve your target address against statewide peers.

Typical rent in Boston is about $2,941/month (very expensive). At $2,941/month for a typical unit, you need about $105,876+ in household income to rent comfortably without stretching (3× rent × 12). Typical home value: $684,900.

Median household income is $89,212, property taxes run about 1.45%, and homes typically sell in around 28 days. Local median income ($89,212) sits below the $105,876 comfort line for that rent. Many households will feel stretched.

Walk Score 68 (Somewhat Walkable); transit score 42 (Some Transit).

Average temperature is about 68°F (highs near 74°F, lows near 62°F).

You can be outside most of the year without extreme gear. Heating and cooling costs are usually moderate compared with hotter or colder metros. If you visit, go in winter or midsummer (not only in spring) to see the extremes.

Who tends to thrive in Boston: (1) Households that want quieter streets (safety sits at 75/100) (2) Dual-income households (at $2,941/month, the rent math works much better with two salaries) (3) Tech and finance workers (the job market is real and local pay near $89,212 helps carry housing costs) (4) People relocating for a job who can pick a safer ZIP (citywide safety is 75/100)

Who should look elsewhere: (1) Single earners under $70k (the rent-to-income ratio is tight at $2,941/month) (2) Anyone stretching past 40% of take-home on housing at $2,941/month (3) Households expecting top marks on rent, safety, and schools at once (Boston does not clear every bar)

Income sniff test: clear about $105,876 household income for $2,941/month rent. Under that, pick a cheaper ZIP or a different city.

Boston MA is not worth it for most movers right now. The data says the risks dominate.

The strongest upside is safety at 75/100 (above what many metros post).

The biggest risk is rent at $2,941/month. Budget from a $105,876+ household income or the ratio gets tight.